Summer Before Her (Completed)

26- When its sunny in California

Kirsten's POV

"Take a right and then drive straight ahead for about a 100 meters," Novak said, imitating the navigation lady and then proceeded to laugh at his own joke.

I pulled to a stop a hundred meters after the right turn just as I was directed and looked at him questionably.

He snapped out of his window gazing and addressed me in the same goofy tone "Hey, I am not done being navigation lady" he said, dried blood caking the corner of his lips.

I nod in response and keep driving under his instructions. An hour later, I am parked outside a sandwich shop while Novak is screaming greetings and what seems like small talk out of the opened window at the cashier.

In turn, the cashier responds with equal enthusiasm. It went on for about five minutes before the cashier in question walked out of the shop with a plastic bag and handed it to Novak, loudly whispering something incomprehensible.

All of this would be seemingly normal and inclusive had all of the conversation not being in Arabic.

"Soooo, you are Arabic?" I ask the cat was now out of the bag, might as well clear the air.

"Dad's Lebanese" he responds curtly, pulling a perfectly wrapped shawarma out of the bag.

He eyes it like he was completely in enamoured and in love with it and I stared at him in the same manner.

He tore open the wrapper biting into it, only to leave his chin covered in condiments. A small laugh bubbled out of lips at this sight, In reaction, he turned around and said: "it tastes like the forbidden apple, Ki"

"Are you sure you just had something to drink? Because I would like some of whatever else you are on"

"Its called having fun, you should try it" he resounded without missing a beat, pushing the flask towards me.

I accepted it and placed it the pocket of the oversized shirt buttoned up around me. The water from my hair dripped off wetting everything else.

I decided to undo the buttons and use it to dry out my hair. As I began, he gave me one look and declared "I mean respect and all but I am a hormonal teenager, can you not undress?"

I just laughed at him and proceeded, the shawarma sandwich held loosely between his fingers as his eyes focused on my fumbling fingers undoing my buttons.

One by one, the came undone, his eyes still glued to them, his mouth a little slack, and then I pulled the shirt off.

"Ya Sharmoota" he mumbled, returning his eyes back to his sandwich.

Unable to make any sense of those words, I asked as I tied the shirt around my head "huh, What was that?"

"You are such a teaseee, I am just gonna let my lips make love to my shawarma" he responded, avoiding eye contact, smacking his condiment covered lips.

"Where to?" I once again asked.

"Oh okay, so you don't want to eat my sandwich offerings?" he pouted, offering me another one out of the bag.

This boy was something else.

For the next few minutes, we sat there, giving our full attention to our respective sandwiches, the sun now at its peak, shining through the windows, turning the car humid as my wet t-shirt and his jeans dried out.

Wiping off my hands, I asked for the third time "Where to?"

"Umm... Icecream" he responded in his most sincere voice.

"Novaaaa, I am asking you where should I drop you off, where your home is?" I tried to clear it, sighing.

"Are you trying to get into my bed?" he responded, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.

"Oh definitely Nova, that's all I can think of" I mocked, his smirk now changing into a full-blown grin, my lips followed suit.

"Yeah, but first we are having ice-cream" he continued, again in the most sincere tone he could muster.

Looks like Icecream was what we were getting and the only parlour that sold good ice-cream was where I had a cry fest about a month ago.

Reluctantly, I drove us to that very parlour, He stared out of the window silently the entire ride.

"Nova, we are here" I called out to him, pulling into the parking lot.

"Huh, let's go" he responded, breaking out of his reverie and hopping out of the car.

The cashier from the last trip greeted us with a knowing smile and said: "Let me guess icepack?"

Novak's grimaced at her words and then nodded, letting his eyes wander into the crowd gathered at the tables.

What happened to his mood now? wait, what if he doesn't have a home and that's why he is stalling? Oh God, how do I deal with this? Should I invite him over?

During my thought avalanche, the cashier returned with an icepack which Novak held to his cheek, hissing out at intervals when the burn from the cold got too intense to handle.

We sat in the same booth, skimming through the menu when he interrupted "Deja vu much?"

"Uh, huh the same booth" I replied.

"And Fred's punches."

"I hope he looks worse," I said, surveying Novak's face, the bruises on his left cheek now turning a shade of purple, his left orbit wore the same shade, the dried blood at the corner of his lips now turning into a scab.

While we waited for our orders, my eyes roamed his face looking at all the bruises they carried and scars that were etched in. As if he knew that I was looking, he held his lower lip between his teeth before releasing them in slow tantalizing motion.

Watching that, my ovaries did a backflip and before either of us could say something or acknowledge the tension between us, the waitress declared, "Heres your caramel peanut tiramisu flavoured ice cream and here's you" placing two plates in front of us.

Without another glance at each other, we enjoyed our sundaes, relishing the richness and sweetness, this was much needed today.

After a while, we were pulling out of the parking lot again and for the fourth time I asked "where to?" but only this time I was riddled with guilt of not knowing if he even had a destination.

-—--------------------------------
End of chapter 26

This came after a long wait. I hope chapters keep flowing after this!
I hope you enjoy reading this.

Please vote and comment if you liked it.

P.s: 'Ya sharmoota' translates into 'you bitch', but not in a bad way, its in a playful manner used by friends.

Until tomorrow
Elle